Chapter 14: Escape

Seven years ago…

Kira Ann was sitting on her bed in her new jail cell. It had been one week since General Samuel had arrested her for the murder of the sailor towns, but she wasn't even at the hard part yet. She had not had any visitors since then, aside from her useless lawyer, and the guilt was driving her crazy. For the past week she had tried to keep herself sane; writing, exercising, or reading were her main distractions from the real world. The entire kingdom was up in arms for what she did and they wanted blood. The trial would take place in a week, but she was wishing it was never going to happen in the first place.

Suddenly a guard came to Kira Ann's cell and began to open it. "You have a visitor. Make it snappy." He said in a threatening tone. Kira Ann followed the guard to the visitor center of the prison where General Samuel, in civilian clothes, sat in the middle of the large visitor table. After sitting down and having her hands chained to the table, Kira Ann looked up at General Samuel, expecting some hateful words to come out. But he didn't.

"Hello old friend," General Samuel said softly, "How are you?"

"I've been better. What are you doing here?"

"To offer help. I'm still not convinced that you did all that so I'm..."

"But I did do it. I killed all those people."

"There has to be more than that. You were gone for two years and you come back killing people? The Kira Ann I know wouldn't do that." Kira Ann didn't respond to General Samuel, there was no point in her mind. General Samuel just continued to talk despite her silence. "I'm offering you a lawyer, Kira Ann. A better lawyer."

"I don't need one. I'm guilty."

"their offering to do the death penalty because of what you did. Trust me this lawyer will be able to help you. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for me."

Kira Ann thought about it for awhile. What did she have to live for? Her father disowned her, there were protesters for her death, and her military achievements were all taken away. There was nothing left for her, but deep down there was a voice teller her not to give up. At first, she thought it was Nox, yet the voice didn't sound like her. She wondered if she should take it, to keep fighting for a better day. If a better day would come.

"Kira Ann, I know things are rough, but I know your not one to give up so quickly. So get your ass in gear."

Looking up at General Samuel, Kira Ann leaned forward to place her hands on the table. "Fine. Who's my lawyer."

Present day…

Largo was in the main deck trying to contact Justice Lee about the current developments. "It doesn't seem like we're in range sir." said his second-in-command Buzzer. "We're still not in our own galaxy yet, it might take us a few days."

"I can wait a few day. We might as well sell the man while we have him. I bet we can catch a good price on him. Where did you put him?"

"With the girl. Both of them have collars on them; if they do anything rash then we'll take care of them," replied Buzzer. "Liz also go some samples to make sure his observation was correct."

"Once we get closer to the trading station talk to our black market contract. He'll be able to set us up with the slave traders. Oh, and make sure to dispose of the delivery boy's body." Giving Largo a small nod, Buzzer continued to fly the ship as Largo went to see Liz.

Kira Ann and Ben were in a holding cell; they had been on the ship for about 48 hours and around the 40th hour Ben was dragged into the cell unconscious with a nasty bruise on his left chin. The mercenaries had tested Ben to see his overall health, to determine how much he would be worth, but they also drugged him in the process. Kira Ann leaned against the wall as Ben was resting on her lap. Both their hands and legs were chained to the ground, which limited their movement, and an inhibitor collars that prevented Kira Ann or Ben putting up any resistance (or so the mercenary thought). While Ben was out, Kira Ann was trying to figure out what she would say to him once he woke up. They hadn't left on the best of terms, but they hadn't made up yet. If they ever made up. Tenderly touching Ben's fresh bruise, Kira Ann brushed it with her fingers.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "This is all my fault. They came here because of me, because of what I did. I need to fix this."

"It's not your fault," said Ben suddenly, his eyes still close. "I was the one who got involved." Raising his hands, Ben then stretched out his hand and grabbed Kira Ann's that was resting on his head. "Are you ok."

"Yeah."

Ben sat up slowly to face Kira Ann as he still held her hand. He groaned a little as he got up. Neither of them said anything for a while until they both tried to speak at the same time. They both made eye contact and then looked back at the ground. The situation was awfully a lot like when Kira Ann first met Ben. There was a lot of silence between them before their relationship grew. As much as she wanted to leave the temple, Kira Ann couldn't help but want to go back to the temple. Aside from her mother, Ben was the only person that made Kira Ann happy. Her father, being a general for the king, and her magical powers were never things that she enjoyed or wanted. She enjoyed being with Ben, and if it was her decision, shroud wants to spend the rest of her life win him. Ben, who was also thinking about what to say, lightly touched the bruise around Kira Ann's neck, bring her attention back on Ben.

"I shouldn't have let you go." began Ben. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but it almost got you killed."

"What do you mean the right thing?"

Ben paused for a moment before he spoke, looking into Kira Ann's light brown eyes. "I thought it would be selfish if I kept you in the temple. You wanted to go out into the galaxy and live with others. Something I can't do."

"But then why did you come back?"

"Before you came to the temple, I was so haunted by the past it consumed me. I felt like I couldn't escape like I was trapped. Then when you came I... I slowly... I wouldn't call it forget, but...I was able to move on from it. With you there, it allowed me to focus on the future, the present rather than the past. I may be haunted by the past for the rest of my life, but..." Ben then grabs Kira Ann's hands into his large ones, "being with you, loving you, has shown me that I can have a life. Not one of war and pain, but of love and kindness. I realized that my purpose now is to be with you. The woman who relates and understands me. The woman who is strong and kind. The woman who is I powered and encourages. The woman who I love so much, that I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"I was going to come back; after what you told me, it reminded me of myself at one point. I did want you to go through that alone. Not how I did."

"You never told me that." That's true she hadn't. She only told Ben the good things; childhood, her learning magic, and sometimes her war stories.

"I don't like to think about it. It was a dark day for me. But if my maid hadn't found me, then I wouldn't be here right now."

"was that the reason why you left?"

"yes, after that happened I left within the next week."

"I'm sorry," Ben said.

"Don't be. It's the past. I won't forget, but I'll move on. I have to."

Ben then leaned forward and kissed Kira Ann lightly on the lips. She then rested her hands one Bens chest and head, lightly grabbing a chunk of hair in the process. "you an amazing woman." Ben said in between kisses. "I know" she whispered back. Ben then pulled Kira Ann closer go him, barely giving them any space I between. Their moment, however, was ruined by Liz coming into the jail cell with a controller in hand. Pressing the red button, Ben suddenly felt a jolt of electricity from his collar.

"no kisssssing! We don't need another problemmmm commming from you two!"

"stop it!" Yelled Kira Ann, who was trying to comfort Ben. Liz then removed his finger off the button, stopping the electricity from Bens collar.

"Think twicesss before doing anything rasssh. We'll be at port sssoon, ssso id would ssspend your time wissssely if I were you." Liz then exited out of the cell, leaving two apples in the ground.

"we need to get out of here." whispered Kira Ann ash she helped Ben up.

"Agreed, we'll come up with a plan. Together." He said as he grabbed Kira Ann's hand.

"Together."

A few hours later...

"Do u know what to do?" whispered Kira Ann which Ben gave a quick nod of approval. After coming up with the perfect plan to escape, both of them were waiting for Liz to show up for his daily rounds. Kira Ann leaned against Ben's shoulder in the middle of the room. They both knew that the plan sounded good, but a plan was never perfect until it is tested. Ben could feel Liz's presence beyond the door.

"Get ready," Ben whispered as he used to force to u click his chains. Just as Liz was about to come in there was a large thud coming from behind the door. The door then opened to see General Samuel, ax and all, at the front of the door.

"Samuel what are you doing here?" asked Kira Ann.

"I'm here for you." He said as he stepped into the cell. "I've been following Largo's men for months. And now it's time to get your ass in gear."